Irrigation sprinkler



July 14, 1936. w. VAN E. THOMPSON ,71

IRRIGATION SPRINKLER Filed May 14, 1955 [NM/5N Toe.- A fimnse Msw. 5. K m/w rms Patented July 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,047,716 IRRIGATION SPRINKLER} Walter Van E. Thompson,- Lcs Angeles,- Calif.,

assignor to Thompson Manufacturing Company, Los Angeles, Calif, .a corporation of California Application May 14, 1935, Serial No. 21,323

12 Claims.

My invention relates to spray devices, such for instance as sprinkler heads, and is particularly adapted for use in connection with automatic sprinkler systems.

In such systems, a number of sprinkler heads are connected to-underground piping and armoss, or other solid matter which may flow upward into the head with the incoming water from the supply pipes, and accordingly it is a primary object of my invention to provide a sprinkler having a control valve and including a strainer means for preventing any solid matter, which might be large enough to become caught in any of the communicating passages or the outlet orifice, from passing into these orifices after it has passed through the inlet valve opening. V

It is an object of my invention to provide a sprinkler head having a valve controlled from theexterior of the head; the valve opening being positioned so that water enters the head through the valve opening directly from the supply pipe.

provide, in a sprinkler head of the type suggested in the above paragrapn'passage means through which water flows after it passes through the strainer means, the passage means being operable to cause the water to be swirled, or to rotate, as it is forced through an outlet opening.

A further object resides in the provision of a sprinkler head comprising only one stationary part and one movable part and including a valve, a, strainer means through which water passes after it flows through the valve, and a means for rotating the water as it is forced through a delivery orifice.

It is another object of my invention to provide a sprinkler head having means for crushing or breaking up snail shells, which may enter the sprinkler head through the inlet valve opening, into small pieces so that thesepieces may be carried on through the head and thrown out of the outlet orifice, the crushing means being operable from the exterior of the sprinklerhead without removing any of the parts thereof.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sprinkler head including a stationary body providing a cavity in which a closure member is axially movable to close a valve opening communicating' with the cavity, the closure member having a portion relatively spaced from the wall of the cavity to form a strainer space through which water passes after it flows through the valve opening, the area of the strainer space being unaffected by niovem'ent of the closure member.' "H

It is a special object of my invention t6 tavide' an extremely simple and cheaply constructed sprinkler head having a minimum of parts yet embodying all of the desirable objects and features discussed above. I

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following part of the specification and the appended claims, in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawing. In the drawing, 7

Fig. I is a vertical section taken on a median plane of a sprinkler head embodying the features of m invention.

means of the invention.

Referring primarily to both forms of the device disclosed, the invention comprises generally a body H having a cavity #2 therein opening upwardly, a closure member [3 axially movable in the cavity toclose a valve opening hi, the member l3 having formed therein an outlet orilice and passages communicating with the cavity, and a strainer space I 5 through which water passes after it flows through the inlet valve opening I l.

In describing the details of construction, I will refer first to 'Figs. l and 2-. The body H is preferably cylindrical and is provided with a dividing wall 20, which cooperates with the cylindrical wall of the body to form the upwardly open, cupshaped cavity l-2, and a depending skirt 2i. The skirt 2! is internally threadedto receive a sup- P y p as shown.

The body I l is preferably providedwith a flange 2'3-having moi-engaging notches 24 to facilitate the threading of the body on the pipe 22".

The valve opening M referred to above, is formed centrally through the dividing wall 2!? and The upper portion of the cavity [2 is internally is provided with an upwardly extending peripheral rim 30 serving as a valve seating surface.

threaded, as at 32, to threadedly receive the closure member I3.

The closure member, in this form of the invention, comprises a hollow shell 35 having a cylindrical outlet orifice 36 formed in the upper wall thereof, substantially in the manner shown. The shell 35 is closed at the bottom by a horizontal wall 3'! which is adapted to seat on the rim 30 of the valve opening to close the opening when the closure member is threaded so as to move axially downward in the cavity I2. It will thus be clear that axial movement of the closure member in the cavity, as by rotating the member I3 to thread it upwardly or downwardly, serves to either entirely close the valve opening I4 or to control the volume of water flowing from the valve opening when the closure member is spaced therefrom any desired distance, as shown in Fig. 1. For purposes of construction, I prefer to form the bottom 31 of the shell 35 by providing a plate which abuts an internal peripheral shoulder on the shell 35 as shown, the lower end of the shell being swaged over under the plate, as at 38, to permanently secure the plate 31 to the shell.

The lower portion 39 of the shell 35, below the threaded portion thereof, has a reduced outer diameter which serves to space this lower portion 39 from the wall of the cavity I2 to provide the annular space I5, which is the strainer means of the invention. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, I prefer to relieve the outer surface of the portion 39 upwardly, so that the cross-sectional area of the annular strainer space is less adjacent the lower peripheral edge 40 of the shell 35. This feature is preferred because it prevents obstructing matter which might have an irregular shape from passing into the entrance of the strainer space and then becoming caught in the upper portion thereof. It will be seen that the area of the annular space I5 defined by the edge portion 40 of the shell and the wall of the cavity I2 always remains the same, being unaffected by the upward or downward axial movement of the closure member I3.

Formed through the wall of the lower portion 39 of the closure member I3 is a plurality of passages communicating between the interior of the shell 35 and the cavity I2 and disposed to rotate the water in the shell. I prefer to form these passages by cutting substantially right-angled slits in the wall of the shell and then deforming the portions 4| within the angled slits so that these portions project inwardly, as shown best in Fig. 2, so as to provide passages 42 which deliver water into the interior of the shell in a swirling or rotating motion.

It will be seen that water from the supply pipe 22 flows through the inlet valve opening I4, the volume thereof being controlled by the spacing of the closure member therefrom; after which it passes through the annular strainer space I5, the restricted space serving to prevent shells, etc., from passing on into the passages 42 where they might become lodged.

, Periodically the closure member I3 may be removed and accumulated matter easily cleaned from the cavity I2.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is essentially the same as the form described above. No means for rotating the water in the head is shown, the closure member I3 threadedly engaging the cavity I2 in this form, having merely a kerfed slot in the upper part thereof which communicates with the cavity I2 below the member I3 through a bore or passage 5f, substantially as shown.

In this embodiment of the device I prefer to provide a dividing wall 52 in the shell, the upper surface of which is counterbored to provide a reduced diameter cavity 53 forming a continuation of the cup or cavity I2.

Provided in the wall 52 forming the bottom Wall of the cavity 53 is a cylindrical opening which comprises the inlet valve opening I4.

Extending downward from the closure member I3 is a reduced portion 54 of smaller external diameter than the wall of the lower portion 53 of the cavity I2, so that the relative spacing of these walls provides the annular strainer space I5 through which water passes after it flows through the inlet valve opening I4. As shown in Fig. 3, I prefer to relieve the outer surf-ace of the reduced portion 54 upwardly, as'and for the purpose set forth in connection with the upwardly relieved outer surface of the shell 35 in the above described form.

The lower horizontal surface 55 of the projection 54 is adapted to seat on the upper surface 56 of the wall 52 to close the valve opening I4, or to control the volume of water flowing from the valve opening when it is spaced there from as shown.

The projection 54 and the seating surface 56 cooperate to perform an additional function which is a special object of the invention. In the event that snail shells, or the like, enter the inlet valve opening I4 with the water stream and are of such a size as to be prevented by the strainer space I5 from flowing on through the head to the outlet orifice, they will come to rest on the ledge formed by the upper surface of the wall 52 which comprises the seating surface 56. If the accumulation of these shells, etc., begins to obstruct the flow of water through the valve opening, the closure member I3 may be threaded downward, with the result that the shells are broken up, the flat surface engagement between the surface 55 and the seating surface 56 assuring that the shells will be broken into very fine pieces which will be readily carried through the strainer space, the passage SI and the outlet orifice 50 by the water stream. It will thus be seen that an accumulation of shells, etc., may be removed from the head without removing any of the parts of the head.

The operation of the valve and strainer means of both forms of the invention disclosed is the same, the water flowing first through the valve I4 and then through the annular strainer space I5. The space I5 being smaller in cross-section than the passages communicating with the outlet orifice, effectively prevents obstructing matter of such a size as would clog the passages 42 and 5I from reaching these passages.

It will be seen that I have provided a simple, cheaply constructed, two-part sprinkler head embodying the features of volume adjustment, strainer means, and means for rotating the water to effect superior range and distribution, together with a means for crushing accumulated obstructing matter such as snail shells, so that the small pieces thereof will be flushed from the head, without dismantling the head.

Two embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in the drawing to illustrate the essential features of the combination; however, it

should be understood that the true scope of the invention should be interpreted by the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sprinkler head, the combination of a body providing walls forming a cavity having a valve opening in one wall thereof; a closure member movable in said cavity to close said valve opening; walls forming a spray orifice and passage means in said closure member communicating with said cavity; and strainer means providing a relatively narrow space which is unaifected by an adjustment in position of said closure member through which water passes after it flows through said valve opening.

2. In a sprinkler head, the combination of a body providing walls forming a cavity having a valve opening in one wall thereof; a closure member movable in said cavity to close said valve opening; walls forming a spray orifice and passage means in said closure member communicating with said cavity; and strainer means formed by relatively spaced walls of said closure member and said cavity defining a relatively narrow space which is unaffected by an adjustment in position of said closure member through which water passes after it flows through said valve.

3. In a sprinkler head, the combination of: a body providing walls forming a cavity having a valve opening in one wall thereof; a closure member movable axially in said cavity to close said valve opening; walls forming a spray orifice and passage means in said closure member communicating with said cavity; and peripherally positioned strainer means through which water passes after it fiows through said valve opening.

4. In 'a sprinkler head, the combination of: a body providing walls forming a cavity having a valve opening in one wall thereof surrounded by a ledge; a closure member movable axially in said cavity to close said valve opening, said closure member having a surface adapted to engage said ledge for crushing shells; walls forming a spray orifice and passage means in said closure member communicating with said cavity; and strainer means formed by relatively spaced walls of said closure member and said cavity through which water passes after it flows through said valve.

5. In a sprinkler head, the combination of: a body having walls forming a cup; walls forming a valve opening in the bottom of said cup; a closure member threaded in said cup for axial movement therein to close said valve opening; walls forming a spray orifice and passage means in said closure member communicating with said cup; and strainer means formed by relatively spaced walls of said cup and said closure member through which water passes after it flows through said valve and before it flows through said passage means.

after it flows through said valve opening and be- 7 fore it flows through said passage means.

7. In a sprinkler head, the combination of: a body providing walls forming a cavity having a valve opening in one wall thereof; a closure member movable in said cavity to close said valve opening; walls forming a spray orifice and passage means in said closure member communicating with said cavity; and strainer means comprising walls forming an annular space between said valve opening and said passage means, the area of said space being unafiected by movement of said closure member.

8. In a sprinkler head, the combination of a body providing walls forming a cavity having a valve opening in one Wall thereof; a closure member movable in said cavity to close said valve opening; walls forming a spray orifice and passage means in said closure member communicating with said cavity; and strainer means formed by a portion of said closure member and the wall of said cavity through which water passes after it flows through said valve opening, the area of said space being unaffected by the movement of said closure member.

9. In a sprinkler, the combination of: a body providing walls forming a cup having a valve opening in the bottom thereof; a hollow closure member movable axially in said cup to close said valve opening; walls forming an outlet orifice in said closure member; walls forming passages in said closure member disposed to deliver water from the interior of said cup to said orifice through the interior of said closure member and to rotate the water therein; and strainer means comprising walls forming an annular space through which water passes after it flows through said valve opening and before it flows through said passages, the area of said space being unaffected by'movement of said closure member.

10. In a sprinkler, the combination of: a body providing walls forming a cup having a valve opening in the bottom thereof; a hollow closure member movable axially in said cup to close said valve opening; walls forming an outlet orifice in said closure member; walls forming passages in said closure member disposed to deliver water from the interior of said cup to said orifice through the interior of said closure member and to rotate the water therein; and strainer means comprising an annular space formed by a portion of said closure member and the wall of said cup through which water passes after it fiows through said valve opening and before it passes through said passages.

11. In a sprinkler head, the combination of: a body providing walls forming a cavity having a valve opening in one wall thereof; a closure member movable in said cavity to close said valve opening; walls forming a spray orifice and passage means in saidclosure member communicating with said cavity; and strainer means providing a strainer space which is relatively long and relatively narrow and through which water passes after it flows through said valve opening.

12. In a sprinkler head, the combination of: a body providing walls forming a cavity having a valve opening in one wall thereof; a closure member movable in said cavity to close said valve opening; walls forming a spray orifice and passage means in said closure member communicating with said cavity; and strainer means providing a strainer space formed on a relatively large diameter and relatively narrow through which water passes after it flows through said valve opening.

WALTER VAN E. THOMPSON. 

